Ventilator for cars



April 17, 1934. w. J. PINE El AL 1,955,088

VEN'IMI LATOR FOR CARS Filed Dec. 8, 1950 %,J4AMMQML (1 3 Patented Apr.17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENTILATOR FOR CARS ApplicationDecember 8, 1930, Serial No. 500,732

11 Claims.

Our invention relates to ventilators, and has to do more particularlywith the type of ventilator adapted to be mounted on the top of a streetor railroad car and to operate by the aspirating eifect of the movementof the car through the atmosphere to draw air from the interior of thecar so that it may be replaced with fresh air.

In ventilators of this general character, as heretofore constructed,under certain weather and operating conditions, there has been sometendency for air, rain, small particles of dirt, etc., to enter the carthrough one or more of the ventilators with which the car is usuallyequipped. Also, in certain of such prior structures, shutters of theoverlapping panel type have been emplayed at the juncture between thecar and the ventilator for regulating ventilation; however, suchshutters are objectionable in that they do not provide a positiveclosure in closed position of the same and, under the foregoing weatherand operating conditions, when the shutter is closed, dirt, rain, snow,etc., tends to collect upon and behind the same so that when it isopened such dirt, etc., falls into the car.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a highly efficientventilator of the foregoing character which eliminates all the foregoingobjectionable features.

Another object is to provide, under conditions when the car is both inmotion and. at rest, for the positive regulation of the ventilation ofthe interior of the car without dirt, weather, etc., getting into theinterior of the car; which arrangement is such that dirt, etc., does nottend to collect upon the regulating means in the closed position of thelatter.

A more specific object is to provide a ventilator having shut-oif meansof the flap valve type which is readily adjustable and which is locatedwithin the ventilator casing at a point remote from the car-ventilatoropening, which valve is so constructed and associated with the remainderof the ventilator structure that dirt, etc., which may tend to collectupon the same is deflected outwardly toward the ventilator outlet, andthe valve structure may be closed and opened at any desired interval,under all operating conditions, without discharging dirt, etc., into theinterior of the car. 7 I

In the use of ventilators of this character, there are times when thetrainmen may have occasion to walk or stand upon the ventilator casingin which cases the ventilator may bedis torted or otherwise injured.Another object of our invention is to prevent injury to the ventilatorin such cases, and to strengthen the ventilator as a while, by providingon the interior of the casing a reenforcing means; and to the end ofeconomy and simplicity we, preferably, employ part, at least, of suchmeans as a seat upon which the regulating valve seats in its closedposition.

An additional object is to provide a strong and durable ventilationvalve operating structure which is capable of minute adjustments to suitall ventilating conditions, and which may be readily and quicklycontrolled from the interior of the car.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this descriptionprogresses and by ref- 7 erence to the drawing wherein,

Figure 1 shows a part of the curved roof of a car with one form of ourinvention applied thereto, the roof and ventilator being shown intransverse section and the ventilator being shown in open position infull lines and in closed position in dotted lines.

' Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of a portion of the open side Wall;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the open bottom wall;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged part-sectional view taken at a point indicated atline 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the ventilator may be mounted onthe car roof 10 having a ventilating opening 11. The ventilator, asshown, takes the form of a, preferably, sheet metal casing having ahorizontal top wall 12 extended laterally into a curved side wall 13which is attached to the car roof by flange 14. The ends of the casingare formed by vertical plane walls '15, 15' having the generalelbow-shape of the ventilator and secured to the top Wall 12,preferably, by lap joints 12 and to the roof 10 by their respectiveflanges 16, 16. A bottom wall 1'1 extending the width of the ventilator(Fig. 1) is secured to the end walls 1-5, 15, preferably, by suitablelap joints and to the inner end of a vertical neck wall 18 by a similarjoint 19. The neck wall 18 has a substantial flange 20 secured to the 1car roof holding the bottom wall 17 spaced from the car roof as shown.

The open outer side 21 of the casing is divided into a plurality oftransverse passageways 22 by cross strips 24 and in these passagewaysare grating strips 23 (Fig. 3). This structure is similar to thatdescribed in our pending application Serial No. 427,095, filed February10, 1930, for Ventilators for cars. More particularly, the outer edgesof the honeycomb structure formed by the strips 23 and 24, when the caris in motion, form numerous aspirating edges, the motion of whichthrough the atmosphere exerts a suction on the air inside theventilator.

The cross strips 24 are .extended integrally inward and downward toprovide deflectors 25 which deflect dirt, air, rain, etc. (which mightunder certain conditions tend to enter the ventilator through openings22) toward the bottom wall. The bottom wall 17 is provided with aplurality of rows of openings 26 which may be formed by slitting thebottom wall in such a way as to provide rib-like surfaces 17 separatingthe several rows. We further shape the material at the rear of each suchopening to provide an up-standing, forwardly-inclined fin or deflector27 at the inner edge of each opening (Figs. 2 and 4). Wherefore, rain,snow, dirt, etc., which may enter the openings 22 is deflected bymembers 25 toward the bottom openings 26 and is discharged therethrough.

To strengthen the ventilator casing to avoid distortion of and injury tothe same in the event that trainmen should walk of stand on it, and togenerally strengthen the structure as a whole, we provide astrengthening member 28 of L-shape in cross-section passing entirelyaround the interior of the casing adjacent the inner end of the neckwall 18. The horizontal web portion 28 of this member is secured to therespective wall surfaces by rivets or any other suitable fasteningmeans. The vertical web portion 28 of this member is of sufiicientlength to provide a substantial inwardly-projecting seat for theregulating valve 29.

The regulating valve 29 is of the flap type having the general outlineshape of the strengthening member 28. A supporting rod 30 is attached tothe upper edge of this valve and its opposite, projecting ends arerotatably mounted in the inner and shorter legs 31 of inverted U-shapedsupports 31 mounted on the opposite end walls 15, 15, preferably, withinthe angle of the member 28 (Fig. 2).

To operate the valve 29, we provide along its one edge an angle plate 32the vertical web of which has an elongated slot 33 in which the pin 34of an operating crank 35 moves. The shorter arm of the crank 35 isrotatably supported upon a wall-carried pin 36 and it is rotated aboutthis pin by an operating lever 37 pivoted to the free end of such arm.The lever 37 is confined between the spaced bases of two U-shapedmembers 38, 39 and is slidably held within the de pressed base portion39 of the U-member 39 by the head 40 of a spring-pressed plunger 40.More particularly, we provide a spring 41 which surrounds the stem ofplunger 40 and is con-v fined under tension between the base of theU-member 38 and the head 40 of the plunger, the latter having its stemslidably mounted in an opening in the base of the U-member 38. With thisstructure, inward and outward slide movement of the lever 37 swingscrank 35 to open and close the valve 29 against the vertical web ofmember 28. The spring-pressed plunger readily permits of this sliding ofthe lever 37, but the plunger head frictionally grips the lever undersufficient tension to hold it and the valve in any position towhich theymay be moved.

We strengthen the valve operating structure by supporting the crank pin36 as shown in Fig. 6. This arrangement also renders this structure morepositive in action as well as providing a leak-proof pin mounting.Specifically, we depress the end Wall 15 inwardly to form a circularspace 15 in which is received a relatively thick washer 50. This washerapproximately fills such space. Aligned openings are provided in thewasher and depressed wall surface to receive the reduced stem 36 of thepin 36 with its enlarged head portion 36 seated on the inner surface ofwall 15. The end of the pin which projects through the washer is upsetor riveted as at 36 rigidly fixing the parts together. Solder, or thelike may be applied at 36 to completely seal the washer in place torender the pin mount weather and air proof.

It will be noted that the valve 29 seats flush on all sides against themember 28 when it is closed. Thus, we provide for a complete shut-off ofthe ventilator when that becomes desirable. Or, the valve may beadjusted to an indefinite number of positions for accurately controllingventilation according to conditions within the car. The car ventilatingopening 10 may be covered by any suitable form of perforated member suchas the grating 43, or a screen or the like.

When the valve 29 is closed, any gusts of air, rain, sleet, snow, dirt,etc., which might find its way into the ventilator as far as the valve(either when the car is in motion or at rest) does not tend to collectupon the valve, but is deflected toward the ventilator outlets 22,bottom openings 26 or into the space immediately outward of the verticalweb of member 28.

In the use of the foregoing structure when the car is traveling ineither direction, the imperforate end walls 15, 15 present a closed wallsurface tothe pressure of the atmosphere. The motion of the edges of thestructure in both the walls 21 and 17 causes an aspirating effect whichexerts an exhausting or suction action upon the air within theventilator so that there is a constant outflow of heated and used airfrom the car. If there is a lateral wind driving against the open sideor wall 21 and it is of sufficient force to overcome the suction effectabove mentioned and to drive gusts of air, water, dirt, etc., throughthe openings 22, the deflectors 25 coupled with the suction effect ofthe bottom openings 26 and the deflection action of the deflectors 27discharges the same through such bottom openings preventing their entryinto the car. The foregoing takes place when the car is either in motionor at rest. A fine degree of ventilation regulation under all theseconditions is provided by the valve 29 which is readily operable frominside the car. Furthermore, the valve 29 may remain closed for longperiods of time without danger of dumping dirt, etc., into the car whenthe valve is opened.

While we have shown only one form of our invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes in details and arrangements of parts maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention asdefined by the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. In a ventilator of the class described having a casing with avertical and a horizontally extending connected portion, the formerportion being adapted to be connected to the car ventilating opening andthe latter portion communicating directly with the atmosphere,aspirating means associated with the side and bottom of said horizontalportion, which means include deflector elements for discharging foreignobjects accidentally entering the casing and a valve adjustably mountedin said casing adjacent the juncture of said vertical and horizontalportions remote from said car and atmosphere connections and adapted tobe moved toward said hori-' zontal portion to close communicationbetween said horizontal and vertical portions, and means adapted toextend within the car for operating said valve.

2. In a ventilator of the class described having a casing with avertical neck portion connected to the car ventilating opening and afour-walled, closed-end horizontal portion extending from said neck andconnected directly to atmosphere at the side and bottom thereof,aspirating means in said horizontal portion, a seat member extendingaround and secured to the four walls of said horizontal portion adjacentthe juncture of said neck and horizontal portions, a flap valve mountedin said casing adjacent said seat member and adapted to swing inopposition to the suction in said horizontal portion as it is opened,said valve being of suflicient dimensions to seat against said member tocompletely shut-off communication between said neck and horizontalportions, and means accessible within the car for operat ing said valveto swing the same to any desired degree with respect to said seatmember.

3. In a ventilator of the class described, a casing having a verticalportion connected at one end to the car ventilating opening a horizontalportion connected to the other end of said vertical portion, aspiratingmeans in the bottom and side of said horizontal portion adapted tocreate a suction effect therein, and valve means within said casinglocated at a point remote from the car ventilating opening forcontrolling communication between said vertical and horizontal portions,and means accessible within the car for operating said valve, said meansbeing movable in the direction of suction to close said valve andincluding adjustable operating connections of friction type eirective tohold said valve in various positions against closing movement by thesuction acting thereon.

4. In a ventilator of the class described, a casing having a verticalportion and a horizontal portion, said horizontal portion having closedend and top walls and open bottom and side walls, aspirating meansassociated with said open walls adapted to create a suction effect insaid ventilator, a valve located inwardly of said aspirat ing means andadjacent the juncture of said vertical and horizontal portions remotefrom the car ventilating opening, and means accessible within said carfor operating said valve.

5. In a ventilator of the class described, a

comparatively thin-Walled casing having a vertical portion and ahorizontal portion, the vertical portion being adapted to connectdirectly to the car ventilating opening and the horizontal portionconnecting directly with the atmosphere at its outer side and bottomonly in a direction at substantially right angles to the direction inwhich the ventilator is moved, aspirating means in said horizontalportion a strengthening member banding the interior wall surface of saidhorizontal portion adjacent its juncture with said vertical portion, aplane surface flap valve mounted in said casing to swing within saidvertical portion toward and from said member and to seat thereon toclose communication between said two casing portions, and means foroperating said valve.

6. A ventilator of the class described having closed front, rear and topwalls, a lateral and a bottom opening, aspirating partitions across saidlateral opening, deflectors arranged across the lateral opening andinclined toward the bottom opening, and deflection means associated withthe bottom opening and inclined toward the lateral opening.

7. A ventilator of the class described having closed rear, front and topwalls, an open side wall having aspirating partitions therein, a bottomwall having a plurality of openings therein, de-

flection means associated with said partitions and directed toward saidbottom openings, and deflection means associated with said bottomopenings and directed toward said'partitions.

8. A ventilator of the class described having closed rear, front and topwalls, an open side wall having aspirating partitions therein, a bottomwall having a plurality of openings therein, 1 deflection meansassociated with said partitions and directed toward said bottomopenings, and deflection means associated with the rear edge of each ofsaid bottom openings and directed to:- ward said partitions. 1

9. A ventilator of the class described having closed rear, front and topwalls, an open side wall having aspirating partitions therein, a bottomwall having a plurality of openings therein, deflection means associatedwith said partitions 1 and directed toward said bottom openings, thematerial between said bottom openings being shaped to provide at therear of each said bottom opening a deflecting wall projecting towardsaid partition deflection means. 1

10. In a ventilator, a relatively thin-walled, ventilating casing havingone of its walls pressed inwardly to provide a depression therein, saidcasing having an inlet and an outlet, means for controllingcommunication between said inlet and outlet which includes a valve and avalve operating member, a pin pivotally supporting said member, and amounting for said pin comprising a flat disk mounted in said depression,said pin having an enlarged head portion and a reduced stem part thelatter of which extends through said casing wall and said disk with itsprojecting end riveted in place, and solder sealing and fixing said diskand wall together.

11. In a ventilator, a casing constituting a ventilating conduit andhaving a relatively thin wall, a valve in said casing, an operating armfor said valve, and means for pivotally mounting said arm on said thincasing wall which comprises, a depression in said wall forming a space,a flat disk 1 seated in said space and substantially filling the same,and a pin having a stem with an integral head at its mid-portion, oneend of said stem projecting through said wall and disk where it isriveted to said disk with said head seated against said wall to hold theparts: rigidly together, the 1 free end of said stem supporting saidarm, and sealing means applied around said disk intimately joining thedisk to said casing wall.

WILLIAM J. PINE. NICHOLAS L. WILLER.

